1) House and Senate lawmakers announced on Monday a previously elusive compromise for legislation to hike the state minimum wage to $9.50 an hour, with ...

GOP-aligned independent groups have rushed to fill the campaign spending gap that Republicans face in their battle for continued control of the Minnesota Legislature.

State Rep. Steve Smith still hasn't filed his pre-primary campaign finance report. The 11-term incumbent, who was trounced in a GOP primary contest last month, now owes $1,400 in fines stemming from the failure to turn in his paperwork to the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie predicted a low voter turnout for Tuesday's primary election, putting his estimate at around 15 percent participation from eligible voters. As it turns out, the state didn't even reach that number.

The fields in all 201 Minnesota legislative contests this fall are now set after more than 40 primary races across the state were settled on Tuesday. In some instances, DFLers and Republicans won contests in partisan strongholds and have almost assuredly secured their place in the Legislature next session.

For most candidates getting past the primary election is merely the first electoral hurdle that must be surmounted prior to joining the Legislature. But for candidates in districts that tilt heavily in favor of either the DFL or GOP, the primary race can effectively serve as the only meaningful contest.

The shape of all 201 Minnesota legislative contests this fall is now set after more than 40 primary races across the state were settled on Tuesday. In some instances, DFLers and Republicans won contests in partisan strongholds and have almost assuredly secured their place in the Legislature next session. In others, incumbent lawmakers were ousted by intra-party challengers.

Three sitting GOP legislators from the western Twin Cities suburbs face tough primary contests next week.

In the 2010 election cycle the Freedom Club State PAC spent just over $220,000 on political expenditures. But the conservative independent expenditure group is apparently taking a different tack so far in 2012.

**UPDATED** Voices of Conservative Women is backing 18 female GOP candidates in state legislative contests, it announced on Monday. The list includes two candidates who are engaged in GOP primary contests.